Results 2,121-2,140 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

School Transport. (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I certainly will.

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I have dealt with this issue comprehensively on a number of occasions, in particular my reply to Question Number 60 on 21 March 2006. I wish to repeat that this Government is fully committed to providing continued supports to Irish communities living abroad. This commitment is clearly demonstrated by the allocation of significant funding directly from the Exchequer to support emigrant...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 13 together. Following the enactment of the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005 the Government approved the allocation of €60 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2006. In this regard, €24 million is being allocated towards projects tackling economic and social disadvantage; €18 million towards projects tackling educational disadvantage...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply by the Taoiseach to Question Number 6 on 17th May 2006. The Taoiseach established the Taskforce on Active Citizenship on 18th April this year. It was set up to advise the Government on the steps that can be taken to ensure that the wealth of civic spirit and active participation already present in Ireland continues to grow and develop. The public consultation sessions...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Illegal drug use is a global issue and so our efforts to tackle it in Ireland must be seen in that context. The enormity and the geographic scale of the struggle we face can be illustrated by considering the sources of the drugs that are sold on our streets. Cannabis resin comes predominately from Morocco, but it can also come from the Middle East and the Indian sub continent. Cocaine...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am advised that Mr. Eoin Ryan T.D., in his capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, looked at various approaches to tackling the problem of drugs misuse in other jurisdictions. This included policies implemented in the Netherlands and Switzerland involving the dispensing of heroin to a small number of people in designated clinics and under strict...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I was pleased to be invited to launch the research to which the Deputy refers, "The Impact of Drugs on Families" commissioned by Ballyfermot STAR. Generally speaking, I would accept the thrust of the recommendations therein. Overall, the report shows that, compared to the average Irish family, the well being of the family of a drug misuser is greatly affected by that drug misuse....

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 24 and 47 together. The first Drug Prevalence Survey in Ireland and Northern Ireland (commissioned by the NACD and DAIRU) was carried out in 2002/2003 covering the 15-64 age group. This survey indicated that lifetime prevalence for cocaine use among young adults (15-34 years) was 4.7% and that 2% of young adults had taken the drug in the previous year....

Written Answers — Community Grants: Community Grants (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: As indicated in my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 16 May 2006, my Department has taken account of the issues raised by the Public Accounts Committee in its report of March 2006 and we continue to have regard to these recommendations in the ongoing management of our grants schemes. The payment arrangements set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 79 were those operated by...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am aware of the findings of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) thematic paper entitled 'Hallucinogenic Mushrooms: An Emerging Trend Case Study' launched on 26 June 2006 to mark International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. With respect to Ireland, the data relates to 2002/03 and originated from the Drug Prevalence Survey undertaken on my...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) have been established to cover all parts of the country not covered by a Local Drugs Task Force, thus achieving full coverage of the country. The RDTFs are charged with researching, developing, implementing and monitoring a co-ordinated response to illicit drug use at regional level. Each Task Force has an independent Chairperson and is made of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is anticipated that the Charities Regulation Bill, which is currently being drafted, will be published in early 2007.

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programme: Drug Treatment Programme (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: It has long been an aim of the National Drugs Strategy to convince communities of the benefits to the drug misuser, his/her family and the whole community of placing drug treatment and rehabilitation services in local communities to meet local demand. Indeed local provision of these services greatly helps to avoid the kind of problems that those who oppose such developments tend to fear. The...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 36 on 29 June 2005. I indicated in my reply that the white paper remains Government policy and that my Department had commissioned a consultancy to advise on practical measures to further advance the key principles set out in the white paper in the light of the changed context since its publication. The consultants' report, which underlines the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: The critical issue is the level of overall funding made available for the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy and in that regard I am fully satisfied with the amount of €43m made available this year under the Vote of my own Department. The earmarking of particular revenues for specific expenditure purposes is generally avoided as it is much more cumbersome to operate than...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I launched the Research Outcome Study in Ireland (ROSIE) evaluating drug treatment effectiveness in September. The study shows that the Government's investment in drug treatment is producing tangible positive results. This NACD-commissioned study (under Action 99 of the NDS) involved 404 people who were recruited when entering treatment for opiate use. They were then interviewed...

Written Answers — Immigrant Services: Immigrant Services (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: On 4th January 2006, following Government approval, I announced details of the allocation of €24 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund for the purpose of supporting programmes and projects tacking economic and social disadvantage. The rollout of these programmes is well underway. Within this category I announced in August last that the Government has approved the allocation of €574,989...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: Through the implementation structures of the National Drugs Strategy, my officials have on-going contact with representatives of An Garda Síochána, and the prevalence of crack cocaine in the country is among the issues discussed from time to time. I also periodically meet senior officers of An Garda Síochána to review developments in regard to illicit drugs. The Gardaí are satisfied...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together. My Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001–2008. The setting up of treatment programmes is a matter for the Health Services Executive and the Minister for Health and Children. The current year's allocation to my Department for expenditure on Drugs Initiatives and...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together. Decisions on the disbursements of funds from dormant accounts under the initial round of funding were a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. Under this round, the Board approved 521 projects for funding totalling over €60 million. Details of these...